Shloka 13
द्रौपदीश्रमः तथा घटोत्कचस्मरणम्
Draupadī’s Exhaustion and the Summoning of Ghaṭotkaca
ते पथानन्तरान् वृक्षान् वल्मीकान् विषमाणि च । पाणिकश्रि: परिमार्गन्तो भीता वायोर्निलिल्यिरे,तत्पश्चात् वे रास्तेके आस-पासके वृक्षों, मिट्टीके ढेरों और ऊँचे-नीचे स्थानोंको हाथोंसे ट्टोलते हुए हवासे डरकर यत्र-तत्र छिपने लगे
te pathānantarān vṛkṣān valmīkān viṣamāṇi ca | pāṇikṛśiḥ parimārganto bhītā vāyor nililyire ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Feeling their way along the bypaths—touching trees, anthills, and uneven ground with their hands—they became frightened of the wind and began to hide here and there.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can overwhelm judgment in harsh conditions: even something natural like wind becomes a trigger for hiding. Ethically, it invites reflection on steadiness (dhairya) and clarity amid uncertainty.
A group is moving through difficult terrain via side-paths, groping with their hands around trees, anthills, and uneven ground. Startled and afraid of the wind, they conceal themselves in various places.